#ThankfulThursday: 2018 Year-in-Review

Warmest Holiday greetings from Tromso, Norway — where it is cold but the people are warm, as the nights long. Most fittingly, this morning Father Richard Vigoa lead our family in prayer and reflection on this Scripture passage:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:35-38

This passage inspired Marile and me to write this #ThankfulThurday — dedicated to the laborers — the volunteers, leaders, and professionals tirelessly working to help families and children in need — in our community and around the world. The needs are many — and, so we thank you for stepping up and pray others will do likewise and give of their time, talents, and treasure — to those in need. In your honor, here are but a few of those profound acts of kindness, caring and generosity through-out 2018:

On World Cancer Day — we joined millions of our fellow volunteers leading the fight to end the suffering and death from childhood cancer once and for all. Senator Rubio fought to ensure that researchers have the essential tools to fight childhood cancer and make sure children with cancer not only survive, but thrive!

It was a greater honor to see our daughter Annia continue the family tradition of service and philanthropy. Annia helped over 20 military brides “to be” at a special American Red Cross event featuring gifts from Maria Elena Headpieces. She plans to make this an annual evednt for future military brides.

Annia was thanked and recognized with the Youth Spectrum Award by the Red Cross.

On Homeless Awareness Day we reaffirmed our commitment — that no man, woman or child should call the streets of our community their home — by volunteering, donating, and supporting Chapman Partnership— one of the fine organizations in our community, that are providing hope for a better future for our homeless neighbors.

We joined our friends Trish & Dan Bell along with Maria & Alberto Carvalho — and Miami’s civic and business leaders in welcoming to our home Emmy Award Winning Journalist Chuck Todd — to celebrate Chuck’s return to his hometown to be inducted into the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Hall of Fame and help raise funds for the Foundation for New Education Initiatives.

Alberto Ibargüen announces the Knight Foundation‘s transformational new funding for arts organizations — to “make art general in Miami” — and, support growth of Miami as a force for arts and culture.This year, thousands of our fellow hardworking, compassionate and generous Miamians donated their time, talents, and treasures to support hundreds of local charities.

Thank you to ALL for those profound acts of kindness, caring and generosity through-out 2018.Next year, when you hear the words, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” we pray you will be reminded of the Lord’s work for our neighbors and know that you — as a laborer — will be transformed in participating in His works.As always, thank you for taking the time to reflect with us.